Glossaries for traffic control planning
A
Access Management
Planning how vehicles, workers, residents, or businesses can safely enter and exit the site.
Advance Warning Sign
A sign placed before a work zone to alert drivers to changing road conditions ahead.
B
Barrier
A physical protective device used to separate traffic from workers or hazards.
Buffer Zone
A clear space between traffic and the work area to improve safety.
C
Clear Zone
An unobstructed roadside area that allows drivers room to recover if they leave the roadway.
Compliance
Meeting legal, safety, and operational requirements.
Cone
A portable device used to guide traffic and mark out work zones.
Control Measures
Actions or devices used to reduce safety risks in a traffic environment.
D
Detour
A temporary route used to direct traffic around a closed or restricted area.
E
Emergency Vehicle Access
Ensuring police, fire, and ambulance vehicles can still move through the area if needed.
H
Heavy Vehicle Access
Consideration for trucks, buses, and oversized vehicles moving through the area.
I
Incident Management
Procedures for responding to crashes, breakdowns, or unexpected events near the work zone.
L
Lane Closure
The temporary closure of one or more traffic lanes during works.
P
Pedestrian Management
Measures used to safely guide pedestrians through or around a work area.
Peak Traffic Period
The busiest time of day for road use, often requiring extra planning.
Portable Traffic Signals
Temporary traffic lights used to manage vehicle movement during works.
Public Safety
Protecting drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and workers from harm.
R
Regulatory Sign
A sign that gives a legal instruction, such as speed limits or no entry.
Risk Assessment
The process of identifying hazards and deciding how to reduce or control them.
Road Closure
A full or partial shutdown of a road to traffic.
Road Users
All people using the road, including drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists.
S
Signage
Temporary signs used to warn, direct, or inform road users.
Site Inspection
A review of the work area to assess road conditions, hazards, and traffic requirements.
Speed Restriction
A temporary reduced speed limit applied near a work site.
T
Taper
The section where cones or devices are placed to guide traffic out of its normal path.
Temporary Traffic Management (TTM)
Measures used to safely control road users around temporary work areas.
Traffic Control Plan (TCP)
A document that shows how traffic, pedestrians, and workers will be managed safely during roadworks or construction.
Traffic Controller
A trained person who manually directs traffic through or around a work zone.
Traffic Guidance Scheme (TGS)
A plan showing the placement of signs, cones, barriers, and other traffic control devices.
V
Visibility Distance
The distance needed for drivers to see signs, hazards, or traffic changes in time to react.
W
Work Hours
The approved times when traffic control measures and works can take place.
Work Zone
The area where construction, maintenance, or utility work is taking place.
